Kyle Busch used last year's failed Chase pursuit to his advantage this season

LOUDON — Kyle Busch has never had trouble with the curve. Busch’s crew chief, Dave Rogers, believes the driver of the No. 18 Toyota fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing is fully prepared to handle anything the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship might throw at him.

“Absolutely, we know the curveball is coming,’’ Rogers said. “It’s going to come.’’

Rogers warned adversity in the Chase could rear its head on Oct. 20 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where drivers run at high speeds, bunched up nose-to-tail, for an extended period before getting caught up in the expected massive pileup that usually whittles the field. Or it could be a missed setup at one track or a bad pit stop at another race.

Busch, who on Friday posted the 12th-fastest qualifying speed for Sunday’s Sylvania 300, is confident in his ability to navigate the potholes that may crop up during the Chase.